Why are 110v and 12v units SO Different???

[Stephen Baltes]

I've been researching refrigeration units to add to my boat this spring, looking at features and prices of different unitsand was quite startled last night when walking through Walmart. How can just "the guts" of a 12 volt unit cost $ 600-1200 +when an entire unit with insulation, doors, shevles and storage bins sell for less than $ 100 at Wally world?? It's hard for me to imagine there is that much difference in the components of the units. What am I missing??Thanks

 

[Phil Williams]

Mass Production

The difference in the DC units built for marine applications and the AC refrigerators found in the appliance shops come down to one basic thing - MASS PRODUCTION.The Compressor - AC compressors operate the same as DC compressors but have different motors. There are approxmately 400,000 DC compressor built each year by just two companies. The AC compressors are built in the millions each year by many different companies around the world. When you produce in volume prices fall quickly.So the next time you go to Wally World and see the 2 cubic foot refrigerator on the shelf with a price tag of $100 just realize this is one of only a million units just like it. The DC refrigerator going in your boat is one of only a few thousand.

 

[Ron Mills]

I recently replaced a 12v with 110v

with a 110v refrig/freezer. I would say that only a small portion of the additional cost is the compressor. I would also question whether or not the compressor is 12v or 110v since mine operated at 110v on shore power and 12v when away. The real cost I felt was the power unit that was converting from either 110v or 12v. I decided that the cost of a good inverter with a low amp 110v refrig/freezer was a better buy than the marine /RV type unit that cost 4 to 5 times the cost. I now have a great refrig with a very nice separate freezer which provides me with as much ice as one of the icemaker units. The batteries will maintain the operation of the new unit just as long as the old unit did since it is drawing about as much power running the inverter as it did running the power pack for the 12/110v marine/RV unit.

 

[Stephen Baltes]

Thanks . . .

Thanks guys. I really would not consider ripping out all the built in cabinetry, etc. but it does suprise me that mass production makes that much difference. A/B and other vendors all seem to use the Danfoss compressors, and the BD 35 and 50 have been in production for a number of years now, so there should be some economy of scale there.As long as sailors are willing to pay there is no reason to lower prices I suppose. Let's all order Coldmachines to build up a backlog!!

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Market for dual voltage is bigger than you think

Marine isn't the only market for 'em...RVs and 18 wheelers that have sleepers also use dual voltage refrigerators. If you go to the Norcold site, you'll see that marine and RV refrigertors are the same ones...even fit the same cutouts. Although the storage boxes are designed differently for use in RVs, trucks and powerboats than for use on sailboats, the compressors, motors etc are the same no matter how the storage box is configured.Granted, there ARE a lot more uses for AC only than there are for dual voltage. However, because dual voltage fridges actually are running on 12v power all the time, whether they're connected to 115v/ac or not--an inverter converts ac to dc when connected to ac power--that does account for at least some of the difference in cost between dual voltage and ac only.IMO, the best choice for single voltage is DC only, not AC only. While away from the dock, your battery keeps it cold...while at the dock, it's still running off the battery, but shore power connected to a battery charger keeps the battery charged. Coleman even makes portable DC-only units that can be plugged into a "cigarette lighter" receptacle...about $60 at Sams or Costco.